Severe Storms on the Move Across the Central and Eastern U.S.

Those hoping to get a head start on travel ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend are going to be met with the threat of severe storms and flash flooding across a large part of the Southwest, the central U.S., and the East Coast. Here is a look at the tumultuous forecast in the days leading up to the holiday.

Mother Nature Could Impact Holiday Travel

The unsettled weather pattern will continue in the days ahead, much to the chagrin of holiday travelers. Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding concerns could put a wrench in both air and road travel as Americans try to get to their Independence Day destination of choice.

Monday's severe weather threats focused on the mid-Atlantic. This is the same part of the country that will see more dangers later in the day on Tuesday and into the evening and overnight hours.

The chance of severe storms on this day will stretch from the Carolinas and to the north into New York and New England. Tuesday's action is setting up across the interstate 81 and 95 corridors in this zone, putting some of the nation's largest airport hubs in the thick of the action. These potential flight disruptions will continue into the overnight hours.

The highest risk of flash flooding will be in areas in the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast that were hit with heavy rain on Monday. Urban areas and locations along small streams will be the most at risk of seeing rising waters in the coming hours. High winds and hail will be a possibility in the zone from eastern Virginia and up into the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

Wednesday's Storms to Linger Along Eastern Seaboard

Similar atmospheric elements in place on Wednesday will lay the groundwork for more storms for the southern Atlantic coastline and to the north into southern New Jersey. Localized flooding will be a concern for the populated Interstate 95 corridor.

Places such as Wilmington, North Carolina, will be in the bullseye for the storms. The thunderstorm activity will persist throughout the day and night, along with winds out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph. Highs will hover in the mid 80s before falling to about 73 degrees overnight.

The threat of storms will hold off until the afternoon hours for Savannah, Georgia. The coastal community is expecting a high of about 88 degrees and lows that land in the mid 70s. The chance of storms will lessen in the evening hours with clearer conditions expected overnight.

It will be the opposite situation to the north in New York City with the highest chance of rain showers for the morning hours. The Big Apple will see drier conditions in the afternoon; however, cloudy skies will keep the temperatures in the mid 80s. Lows will slip to about the 70-degree mark.

A secondary area of severe weather is in store for the Upper Midwest on Wednesday. This action will fire up along a cool front moving through the region. The highest concentration of storms will stretch from the northern and central portions of Wisconsin and over to northern Michigan. Drier air in this part of the Upper Midwest will translate to gusty winds and hail.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, is anticipating sunny skies early with rain showers and storms erupting in the afternoon. It will be a warm day with highs that reach the upper 80s and lows that slide into the mid 60s. Winds will clock in at 10 to 15 mph from the west.

Northeast in the Line of Fire for Storms on Thursday

The Northeast will once again get caught in the crosshairs of severe weather on Thursday. Like the storms that roam the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes on Wednesday, Thursday's impacts will set off the chance of moderate hailstorms and gusty winds. The wind speeds could be powerful enough to break small tree limbs and bring down power lines, creating the risk of power outages on a local level.

Albany, New York, is forecast to see partly cloudy skies and dry weather to start the day. Rain and storms could be an issue for the latter part of the day, pairing with winds out of the west-southwest at 10 to 15 mph. Temperatures will remain moderate, topping out in the low 80s for a high with lows forecast to dip into the upper 50s after the sun goes down.

The line of storms on Thursday will stretch into parts of Canada, including southeastern Ontario, the southern edge of Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Storms to Ignite Farther West on Friday

The Fourth of July is shaping up to be a rocky day of weather for much of the central and northern Plains and to the east. Friday's storms will reload across north-central Kansas and to the north into the Dakotas. To the east, you can expect the storms to fire up in Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and the western edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Once again, likely impacts include high winds, damaging hail, and flash flooding. Those with outdoor plans in this part of the nation's heartland will want to keep a close eye on the hourly forecast. Check back as the holiday inches closer for a more detailed look at what to expect from Mother Nature on America's birthday.

The holiday could be a stormy affair for portions of the interior Southwest. Forecasters have been warning for days that the end of the week will see the return of the North American monsoon season for this region. This will translate to an uptick in moisture.

The North American monsoon season is typically distinguished by times of heavy rain, gusty storms, and the threat of flash flooding. It is also not unusual for tropical moisture to filter up from the Eastern Pacific and enhance the storms triggered by the monsoonal pattern.

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